Turkmen-Afghan summit talks held in Ashgabat

In Ashgabat, negotiations were held between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, who arrived in the Turkmen capital on an official visit.

During the one-on-one negotiations and in the expanded composition of the delegations, the heads of state discussed key areas of Turkmen-Afghan cooperation, focusing on the fuel energy, electric power, transport and communications, trade, culture and education. In particular, the leaders of the two states exchanged views on the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, power lines and fiber-optic communications in the direction of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan and other issues.

During the talks, progress was noted in the development of trade and economic relations. Thus, in 2018, mutual trade turnover amounted to about 684 million US dollars, which is much higher compared to the same indicator in 2017.

In addition, the groans discussed issues of security and stability in the region of mutual interest. In this regard, the Turkmen leader stressed that Turkmenistan, as a neutral state and the closest neighbor, is ready to help Afghanistan establish direct talks between the Afghan government and all parties interested in resolving the situation in the country by peaceful, political means.

At the conclusion of the talks, a ceremony was held to sign bilateral documents designed to promote the development of the Turkmen-Afghan partnership.

Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Mohammad Ashraf Ghani signed the Treaty on Strategic Cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and a joint statement to the applause of those present.

In the presence of the heads of state, agreements were signed on air communication, on the place of the international railway crossing on the Turkmen-Afghan state border, on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs affairs. The parties also signed memorandums of understanding on the development of cooperation in the oil and gas sector, on increasing the volume of Turkmen electricity supplied to the Afghan province of Herat, on the construction of the Akina-Andkhoy railway, on cooperation between the Makhtumkuli Institute of Language and Literature and National Manuscripts the archive of Afghanistan, and also approved the rules for the organization of the Turkmen-Afghan state border of the railway communication between the stations of Hetabat - Turgundi.

Then the leaders of the two countries addressed the media. After that, in honor of the distinguished guest, the President of Turkmenistan gave an official dinner.

In the afternoon, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan visited the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, where he addressed faculty and students.

Having completed the program of the official visit to Turkmenistan, the Afghan leader proceeded to the capital's International Airport and departed from Ashgabat.